Environmental Action & Education Programs

Since 1984, Clean Ocean Action has been using research, public education and citizen action to improve the quality of the waters off the New Jersey/New York coast. Our belief is that people will take action to protect things that they love. Together, we must act quickly and effectively to keep our ocean clean.

Clean Ocean Action has developed many different education programs and resources to engage citizens in the protection of the ocean. Follow the links below for more information on these unique and interactive programs. Please note the purple tabs/links on the left hand side of the screen for more information on Clean Ocean Action's education programs.

Become an Education Ambassador!

Do you love COA? Are you a teacher or are you comfortable doing trained presentations in front of groups? If so, then the Clean Ocean Action Education Ambassador program is for you! Educators can assist Clean Ocean Action's education program by conducting presentations about ocean pollution issues to school and community groups across the state of New Jersey.

Cost: COA generally asks for a $75 donation for an hour long presentation

For more information about the Educational Presentations, please click on above link.

Clean Ocean Action offersinformative marine environmental presenations to teach students about the issues surrounding ocean pollution. All presentations are tailored to the age and size of the audience.

For more information about Student Ocean Advocates, please click on the above link.

Through Student Ocean Advocates (SOA), students gather and learn about current environmental threats to our oceans and experience key advocacy techniques that can make a difference today, as well as in the future. Together, students vote on an issue to focus their efforts on throughout the SOA year. Each high school develops and implements a campaign to encourage members of their "home high school" and communities to make environmentally conscious choices in their daily lives. SOA meetings run from November through May each year and all meetings are facilitated by Clean Ocean Action staff.

For more information about Barnegat Bay Buddy or to fill out the application, please click on the link above.

Excessive nitrogen from lawn care fertilizers, as well as other land-based pollution from pet waste, deforestation, overdevelopment, and air pollution are destroying the fragile and unique ecosystem of Barnegat Bay. Clean Ocean Action and Save Barnegat Bay have developed the "Barnegat Bay Buddy" challenge to raise awareness about the pollution problem in the bay and to engage homeowners and businesses. Citizens earn points by taking actions that will reduce the pollution entering the Bay from their properties and are awarded a yard sign (100% recycled aluminum) to show their support and hard work. Application can be downloaded.

For more information about Pond Pals or to fill out an application, please click on the link above.

Wreck Pond is 12 square-miles of important habitat for shore birds and fish, especially herring. The health of these waters are threatened by multiple problems. For example, fecal contamination pollutes both the pond and nearby storm drains, which can affect ocean waters and pose health risks to pond users and beach goers. Sources can included leaking sewers, pet waste, and nuisance waterfowl.

With the help of citizens, towns, Monmouth County, Rutgers University, and state and federal agencies, COA created the Wreck Pond Pals to challenge residents to complete small actions in order to make a big difference in a continued effort to protect the health of these waters and prevent flooding.